This morning, I received an email from Amazon suggesting various books and music based upon past purchases. Right next to CDs by the Beach Boys, Van Morrison and Mark Knopfler was the book, The Art of the Start by Guy Kawasaki, Penguin Books, 2004.
What is great about the new marketing techniques employed by companies like Amazon is that they are able to suggest ideas to a consumer (like me) based upon past purchase patterns; seductive, but convenient, too. So, I was not surprised to see that they were suggesting Guy's book to me since I have purchased books from Amazon by Geoffrey Moore, Jim Utterback and others who study and write about early stage companies, innovation and entrepreneurship. Amazon wants me to buy Guy's book so they kindly provided a few pages of content for me to view. I took a few moments and looked inside. On those first few pages Guy writes about the idea and value of a company "Mantra" over a Mission Statement, and provided a few examples of the difference. Mission Statements are often cumbersome and loaded with hackneyed platitudes that quickly descend into mediocrity and "babble". A Mantra is simple and profound ---maybe in the same way as a Haiku.
When I read it over I thought---'yes, a mantra---for KULPER & COMPANY! Why not?"....instead of a rambling mission statement about being the best---putting clients first---providing superior customer service, quality processess etc., etc., etc., .... ad nauseum, let's see if we too, can have a mantra for our firm that really sums up our value proposition in a way that is unforgetable for us here in the firm and anyone who encounters us. Nike's mantra " Authentic Athletic Performance"--and tagline/"Just do it!" is so easily understood; Disney's mantra is "Fun family entertainment", IBM's, "THINK"...... you get the idea.
So here goes.....with KULPER & COMPANY's mantra: "The Right Hired Candidate".......
Really, that is what we strive for in our firm because when that happens everyone wins. So, if you are a potential candidate for one of our searches you can take heart---we will try to make sure you understand as much as we can tell you about the opportunity before you get an offer and accept the job. If you are a client you can know that we will have your back....every step of the way throughout the search assignment.... because we want you to attract the right new leader for your organization, not merely fill an open position and collect our fee.
Have a great weekend and work for peace every day in all that you do....I will be contemplating our mantra!
Semper rise,
Keith
Keith D Kulper, President
Keith addressing 12/7/10 meeting of the KULPER Advisory Board held at New Jersey Institute of Technology
Friday, February 25, 2011
Friday, February 18, 2011
Research, Innovation & Application
Probably one of the most important positions in any company or organization is the role filled by the person most responsible for driving research and applied innovation. It is exciting to see synapses firing and entirely new applications come out that make our lives better. Companies like GE were created by creative people like Thomas Edison, for example, who we in New Jersey are proud to call one of our own. Thankfully, his legacy is alive and well in large and early stage companies alike who are striving for better ways to solve problems and make our lives better and better. I love working with companies and organizations like that--it is not only important and interesting it is thrilling to see, over time, how their daring and innovative solutions really do make a difference.
If we pay attention we can take part in the creative process that is birthing innovative solutions, no matter what our role in life might be. Sometimes this means taking the road less travelled in order to support a fledgling idea or supply a key missing ingredient to the success formula; be it in the form of capital, hard work or simply moral support. Pay attention because you will have an opportunity to do that and when it comes along, go for it. In America and around the world research and innovation lie at the heart of human development, so be supportive of this very special human activity.
At KULPER & COMPANY our focus is on conducting search assignments that involve bringing forward leaders to fill key roles. Our preference in working on assignments at the seam of academia and applied entrepreneurship is founded on our belief that the right people are necessary to drive research and then apply it in innovative and often startling ways. To the extent that our efforts here can help encourage additional dialogue and interaction among these two vital groups we believe that we are helping to play a part in making the world a better place.
Warm regards,
Keith
If we pay attention we can take part in the creative process that is birthing innovative solutions, no matter what our role in life might be. Sometimes this means taking the road less travelled in order to support a fledgling idea or supply a key missing ingredient to the success formula; be it in the form of capital, hard work or simply moral support. Pay attention because you will have an opportunity to do that and when it comes along, go for it. In America and around the world research and innovation lie at the heart of human development, so be supportive of this very special human activity.
At KULPER & COMPANY our focus is on conducting search assignments that involve bringing forward leaders to fill key roles. Our preference in working on assignments at the seam of academia and applied entrepreneurship is founded on our belief that the right people are necessary to drive research and then apply it in innovative and often startling ways. To the extent that our efforts here can help encourage additional dialogue and interaction among these two vital groups we believe that we are helping to play a part in making the world a better place.
Warm regards,
Keith
Friday, February 11, 2011
Deciding who Leads....
As a professional executive search consultant it is great to meet bright people from our field. Joe McCool is known among search practitioners as one of the key thought leaders about the practice of executive search. It is my pleasure to recommend his book, Deciding Who Leads, to the readers of my blog. All business executives and aspiring leaders should understand the value of executive search and how it really works. Joe's book provides a great overview of the subject---I hope you will check it out.
http://www.decidingwholeads.com/the-author/index.htm
Warm regards,
Keith
http://www.decidingwholeads.com/the-author/index.htm
Warm regards,
Keith
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Keith D. Kulper, President KULPER & COMPANY, LLC Executive Search: Pre Search Preparation
Keith D. Kulper, President KULPER & COMPANY, LLC Executive Search: Pre Search Preparation: "One of the key elements of any activity is preparation. Lately, we have been working hard to help our prospective clients in meaningful ways..."
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Pre Search Preparation
One of the key elements of any activity is preparation. Lately, we have been working hard to help our prospective clients in meaningful ways before we win the assignment. We essentially test the market reaction to the first draft of the job description provided to us by the client by showing it to potential candidates and candidate sources. A key question we ask is: "what do you think the key performance indicators /by when should be in order for a candidate to succeed in this job"? We also ask their reaction to the planned compensation for the job.
This early on information helps the client better gauge how best to go out into the marketplace with a position description that is both robust and highly attractive. As a result, the search process can be shortened and the likelihood of the right candidate being attracted and hired is improved.
Warm regards,
Keith
This early on information helps the client better gauge how best to go out into the marketplace with a position description that is both robust and highly attractive. As a result, the search process can be shortened and the likelihood of the right candidate being attracted and hired is improved.
Warm regards,
Keith
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Happy 50th Anniversary: Bob Dylan comes to NYC & NJ
For those of you who know me over the years you are aware that I am a big fan of Bob Dylan. His music, poetry and artistry have had --and will continue to have---a tremendous impact and influence on our culture and on global consciousness as well.
This week marks an important anniversary for Bob, for it was way back in January of 1961, shortly after the famous inaugural speech of President John F. Kennedy, that Bob made his way to New York City to make his mark at the young age of 19. He came east to see his inspiring role model, Woody Guthrie, who at that time was languishing in Greystone State Hospital in Morris Plains, NJ. Bob had read Woody's book, Bound for Glory and his life was changed forever. He began to see himself as a player in the long line of American folk musicians---authentic interpretators of the spirit that defines our country in so many ways. But back in January of 1961, Bob was not just making a trip east to discover his voice, he was making a pilgrimage to Morris Plains to meet Woody Guthrie, too. It was very cold back then---just as it is today. There were a string of snow storms and bitter cold during the winter of 1961 in the northeast; not so different to what we are experiencing at the present time here in the northeast. So, I would like offer Bob congratulations on his 50th anniversary of making that long ago journey because he has enriched so many lives from that moment on. It took a lot of courage, intelligence and curiousity to sally forth from the safety of his native midwest. How many of us would have done the same thing? I doubt that many of us would...and that is in part what makes his early accomplishments so incredible and inspiring.
On the very next day after arriving in NYC and performing at an open mike session at the famous CAFE WHA? in New York's Greenwich Village, Bob made traveled into "deepest NJ" to visit Woody in his hospital room in Greystone State Hospital in Morris Plain, NJ. It was a very brave and amazing thing he did. Visiting any hospital is never easy---but this one was famous for its incredible scale ( over 7000 patients) and that fact that it housed a great many people who suffered from mental illnesses; scary to think about that fact, even today. But, despite any fears Bob may have had about going to see Woody at Greystone---he went ahead, not once but many times. He would talk with Woody and play for him, too. in his hospital room; most often his interpretations of Woody's songs. Later, Bob would bring his new found friends along with him when he would travel to Morris Plains to see Woody, Joan Baez, among them.
I became so interested in this story that I decided to write a film script about Bob's first weeks in New York City and NJ. I embarked on this project because I think the story deserves to be more widely known, since it is so rich with character and historical interest, too. It is part of the universal story of "becoming" that every person experiences as they make the transition into adulthood; but with a backdrop of Greenwich Village, Greystone Hospital during a nascent period that preceeds the tumult of the '60s. If you are interested in learning more about the script, please drop me a line.
So, in closing today......
Happy Anniversary, Bob---and thanks for all you have done! Thanks too, to Woody Guthrie who was Bob's inspiration----both of them are great Americans who deserve our gratitude and admiration.
Peace---always,
Keith
This week marks an important anniversary for Bob, for it was way back in January of 1961, shortly after the famous inaugural speech of President John F. Kennedy, that Bob made his way to New York City to make his mark at the young age of 19. He came east to see his inspiring role model, Woody Guthrie, who at that time was languishing in Greystone State Hospital in Morris Plains, NJ. Bob had read Woody's book, Bound for Glory and his life was changed forever. He began to see himself as a player in the long line of American folk musicians---authentic interpretators of the spirit that defines our country in so many ways. But back in January of 1961, Bob was not just making a trip east to discover his voice, he was making a pilgrimage to Morris Plains to meet Woody Guthrie, too. It was very cold back then---just as it is today. There were a string of snow storms and bitter cold during the winter of 1961 in the northeast; not so different to what we are experiencing at the present time here in the northeast. So, I would like offer Bob congratulations on his 50th anniversary of making that long ago journey because he has enriched so many lives from that moment on. It took a lot of courage, intelligence and curiousity to sally forth from the safety of his native midwest. How many of us would have done the same thing? I doubt that many of us would...and that is in part what makes his early accomplishments so incredible and inspiring.
On the very next day after arriving in NYC and performing at an open mike session at the famous CAFE WHA? in New York's Greenwich Village, Bob made traveled into "deepest NJ" to visit Woody in his hospital room in Greystone State Hospital in Morris Plain, NJ. It was a very brave and amazing thing he did. Visiting any hospital is never easy---but this one was famous for its incredible scale ( over 7000 patients) and that fact that it housed a great many people who suffered from mental illnesses; scary to think about that fact, even today. But, despite any fears Bob may have had about going to see Woody at Greystone---he went ahead, not once but many times. He would talk with Woody and play for him, too. in his hospital room; most often his interpretations of Woody's songs. Later, Bob would bring his new found friends along with him when he would travel to Morris Plains to see Woody, Joan Baez, among them.
I became so interested in this story that I decided to write a film script about Bob's first weeks in New York City and NJ. I embarked on this project because I think the story deserves to be more widely known, since it is so rich with character and historical interest, too. It is part of the universal story of "becoming" that every person experiences as they make the transition into adulthood; but with a backdrop of Greenwich Village, Greystone Hospital during a nascent period that preceeds the tumult of the '60s. If you are interested in learning more about the script, please drop me a line.
So, in closing today......
Happy Anniversary, Bob---and thanks for all you have done! Thanks too, to Woody Guthrie who was Bob's inspiration----both of them are great Americans who deserve our gratitude and admiration.
Peace---always,
Keith
Friday, January 21, 2011
NYC Engineering and Innovation: Mayor Bloomberg Press Conference featuring KULPER AB member President Jerry Hultin NYU Polytechnic University
Dear Colleagues
As you all know we are keenly interested in higher education and innovation----it is our focus here at KULPER---“where higher ed meets corporate innovation”.
It is a pleasure to share with you a video of yesterday’s press conference at Columbia University concerning the initiatives of Mayor Bloomberg and fellow K-AB member, President Jerry Hultin –NYU Polytechnic University. Our new friend Dr Buzz Paaswell at City University also figures prominently in the news conference.
KDK NOTE: Jerry and Buzz were integral parts of a news conference this week that included Mayor Bloomberg and other NYC based leaders in engineering higher ed/entrepreneurship http://www.nyc.gov/portal/site/nycgov/?front_door=true
The good news is that NYC is showing real progress in job growth. Engineering lies at the heart of company creation and innovation. We will follow the progress of these initiatives very closely. The role we look forward to playing an increasingly larger role is in helping our higher ed and corporate clients attract the right leaders for their exciting and vital initiatives.
Wishing you all a good weekend---and congrats again to Jerry & Buzz for the great leadership they are showing in helping to make NYC a true global center of innovation.
Warm regards
Keith
As you all know we are keenly interested in higher education and innovation----it is our focus here at KULPER---“where higher ed meets corporate innovation”.
It is a pleasure to share with you a video of yesterday’s press conference at Columbia University concerning the initiatives of Mayor Bloomberg and fellow K-AB member, President Jerry Hultin –NYU Polytechnic University. Our new friend Dr Buzz Paaswell at City University also figures prominently in the news conference.
KDK NOTE: Jerry and Buzz were integral parts of a news conference this week that included Mayor Bloomberg and other NYC based leaders in engineering higher ed/entrepreneurship http://www.nyc.gov/portal/site/nycgov/?front_door=true
The good news is that NYC is showing real progress in job growth. Engineering lies at the heart of company creation and innovation. We will follow the progress of these initiatives very closely. The role we look forward to playing an increasingly larger role is in helping our higher ed and corporate clients attract the right leaders for their exciting and vital initiatives.
Wishing you all a good weekend---and congrats again to Jerry & Buzz for the great leadership they are showing in helping to make NYC a true global center of innovation.
Warm regards
Keith
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